Luzia Gonçalves

Dr. Luzia Gonçalves

1. Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of Nova Lisboa, R. da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
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orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

27Years (2000-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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1 August 2011 in American Journal of Clinical Dermatology
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Journal Article
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JBJoão Borges-Costa
João Borges-Costa
RSRaquel Silva
Raquel Silva
LGLuzia Gonçalves
Luzia Gonçalves
PFPaulo Filipe
Paulo Filipe
LSLuis Soares-de-Almeida
Luis Soares-de-Almeida
MGManuel Marques Gomes
Manuel Marques Gomes

1 January 2009 in The Veterinary Journal
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Journal Article
Closed access
Carla MaiaCarla Maia
Carla Maia
JRJoão Ramada
João Ramada
JCJosé Manuel Manuel Martins Cristóvão
José Manuel Manuel Martins Cristóvão
LGLuzia Gonçalves
Luzia Gonçalves
LCLenea Campino
Lenea Campino

14 March 2011 in Letters in Applied Microbiology
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Journal Article
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NFN.C.G. Faria
N.C.G. Faria
JKJ.H. Kim
J.H. Kim
LGLuzia Gonçalves
Luzia Gonçalves
MMM. de L. Martins
M. de L. Martins
KCK.L. Chan
K.L. Chan
BCB.C. Campbell
B.C. Campbell

1 March 2013 in Acta Tropica
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Journal Article
Closed access
SBSofia Branco
Sofia Branco
CAC. Alves-Pires
C. Alves-Pires
Carla MaiaCarla Maia
Carla Maia
SCSofia Cortes
Sofia Cortes
JCJosé Manuel Manuel Martins Cristóvão
José Manuel Manuel Martins Cristóvão
MAM.O. Afonso
M.O. Afonso

1 September 2000 in Acta Tropica
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Journal Article
Closed access
JPJoao Pinto
Joao Pinto
CSCarla A. Sousa
Carla A. Sousa
VGVilfrido Gil
Vilfrido Gil
CFConceição Ferreira
Conceição Ferreira
LGLuzia Gonçalves
Luzia Gonçalves
VRVirgı́lio E. do Rosário
Virgı́lio E. do Rosário

3 March 2015 in Parasites & Vectors
Verified
Journal Article
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CFCátia Alexandra Costa Ferreira
Cátia Alexandra Costa Ferreira
VMVerónica Mixão
Verónica Mixão
MNMaria Teresa Lourenço Marques Novo
Maria Teresa Lourenço Marques Novo
MCMaria Manuela Calado
Maria Manuela Calado
LGLuzia Gonçalves
Luzia Gonçalves
AAAntonio Paulo Gouveia Almeida
Antonio Paulo Gouveia Almeida
Canine dirofilariasis due to Dirofilaria immitis is known to be endemic in continental Portugal. However, information about the transmitting mosquito species is still scarce, with only Culex theileri identified to date, albeit with L1-2, through dissection. This study was carried out to investigate the potential vectors of Dirofilaria spp. in continental Portugal. Mosquitoes were collected in three distinct seasons (Summer, Autumn and Spring), 2011–2013, in three districts. CDC traps and indoor resting collections were carried out in the vicinity of kennels. Mosquitoes were kept under controlled conditions for 7 days to allow the development of larval stages of Dirofilaria spp.. DNA extraction was performed separately for both head+thorax and abdomen in order to differentiate infective and infected specimens, respectively, in pools, grouped according to the species and collection site (1–40 specimen parts/pool), and examined by PCR using pan-filarial specific primers. Mosquito densities were compared using non-parametric tests. Dirofilaria development units (DDU) were estimated. In total, 9156 female mosquitoes, from 11 different species, were captured. Mosquito densities varied among the 3 districts, according to capture method, and were generally higher in the second year of collections. From 5866 specimens screened by PCR, 23 head+thorax and 41 abdomens pools, corresponding to 54 mosquitoes were found positive for D. immitis DNA. These belonged to 5 species: Culex (Cux) theileri (estimated rate of infection (ERI)=0.71%), Cx. (Cux) pipiens f. pipiens and f. molestus (ERI=0.5%), Anopheles (Ano) maculipennis s.l. (ERI=3.12%), including An. (Ano) atroparvus, Aedes (Och) caspius (ERI=3.73%) and Ae. (Och) detritus s.l. (ERI=4.39%). All but Cx. pipiens, had at least one infective specimen. No D. repens infected specimens were found. Infection rates were: 3.21% in Coimbra, 1.22% in Setúbal and 0.54% in Santarém. DDU were at least 117/year in the study period. Culex theileri, Cx. pipiens, An. maculipennis s.l. An. atroparvus, Ae.caspius and Ae. detritus s.l. were identified as potential vectors of D. immitis in three districts of Portugal, from Spring to Autumn, in 5 of the 6 collection dates in 2011–2013. Implications for transmission, in the context of climate changes, and need for prophylactic measures, are discussed.